Military athletes shape the Olympic narrative across four days at Milano Cortina 2026

MILAN / CORTINA D’AMPEZZO (ITA) — Between 12 and 15 February, the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games entered a decisive phase and athletes in uniform became central protagonists across nearly every type of winter discipline. From alpine speed to biathlon precision and sliding sports, the four-day stretch produced a succession of podium finishes confirming the competitive depth of military sport programmes.

The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games continue to produce defining moments for athletes in uniform, where performance, resilience and emotion combine to shape the Olympic narrative. Over several days of competition, military competitors stood at the centre of the spotlight across alpine skiing, biathlon, sliding sports, speed skating and snowboard cross.

The sequence opened on the Tofane slope in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Italy’s Federica Brignone attacked the Super-G with commitment and confidence, skiing aggressively yet cleanly to secure Olympic gold. Returning from injury, her victory carried particular emotional weight and immediately set the tone for the days ahead. Behind her, France’s Romane Miradoli delivered a powerful run to earn silver, proving her consistency in high-speed alpine racing where margins are counted in hundredths of a second.

A few days later, Brignone returned to the start gate and confirmed her dominance by winning gold again in the women’s giant slalom. The Carabinieri marshal thus completed a remarkable Olympic double, mastering two different alpine disciplines through technical precision and controlled risk. The performance quickly became one of the defining images of the home Games.

Italy’s momentum continued in Anterselva where Italy’s Lisa Vittozzi produced a composed and authoritative race in the 10 km pursuit biathlon. Perfect shooting and steady pace allowed the Carabinieri athlete to claim a historic Olympic gold following her earlier medal in the mixed relay, reinforcing her position among the leading figures of the competition.

Snowboard cross then added another emotional chapter. In the mixed team event, Italy’s Michela Moioli and Lorenzo Sommariva combined timing and tactical awareness to secure silver, navigating the unpredictable nature of the discipline with coordinated runs and decisive overtakes.

France remained constantly present in the medal story. France’s Océane Michelon captured silver in biathlon through controlled shooting, while France’s Lou Jeanmonnot added bronze after a tense final stage decided at the targets. On the endurance tracks, France’s Hugo Lapalus contributed to a relay silver in cross-country skiing, illustrating once again the importance of teamwork in Nordic events.

Meanwhile, on the luge track, Italy’s Andrea Vötter and Italy’s Marion Oberhofer made history as the first Olympic champions in women’s doubles, before Italy’s Verena Hofer joined a relay performance that added another medal for the host nation. On the speed skating oval, Italy’s Francesca Lollobrigida continued her exceptional Games by controlling the 5,000 metres and securing another Olympic title through perfectly managed pacing.

Across four days and multiple venues, a consistent pattern emerged: success based on execution rather than risk. Whether racing downhill at high speed, gliding across snow, or controlling breathing at the shooting range, military athletes repeatedly demonstrated the capacity to perform under pressure.

As Milano Cortina 2026 progresses toward its final phase, the performances recorded during this period confirm that athletes in uniform are not only participants but key actors of the Games, continuing to embody commitment, resilience and the spirit of Friendship through Sport.

(Source: CISM Media & Communication Department - Pictures: Ministero Della Difesa - Equipe de France Olympique et Paralympique)